Alpina is as Swiss as its name implies, and this outdoorsy watch brand has been designed with the adventurer who seeks thrilling sports on land, sea and air in mind. Established in 1883, this Swiss brand has retained its core philosophy of providing the best watches for extreme environmental conditions.
Its precise and sturdy timepieces, used by military aviators during World War I, are now highly-collectible editions that fetch good prices at auctions.
In 1926, Alpina was the first to issue an international watch guarantee, as a testament to its high standards. And it proved to be a great marketing tool. As proof of the brand’s dominance it the watch market then, it was sold by over 2,000 dealers all over Europe.
It continued its successful run with the introduction of the legendary Alpina 4 in 1938, which earned its name because of its four features: antimagnetic, anti-shock, water resistant and protected by a robust case as well as a stainless steel bracelet.
With the arrival of the game-changing timepiece, it became the preferred watch of professionals and sports-minded extreme adventurers whose ethos is captured in its contemporary tagline “Reach Your Summit”.
In the late 1960s, it plunged into deep waters with the Alpina Diver 10 Seastrong, a professional diver’s watch with two crowns—the second one for decompression time.
The brand was acquired by Frederique Constant in 2002, and reentered the market via the Baselworld International Watch fair the following year. A succession of strong editions followed, all catering to the extreme sports niche.
In 2006, Alpina unveiled the variant that would put the brand back on the map: the Avalanche Extreme. It was followed by similar models made for various sports. But it would be another diver’s watch that would bolster the brand’s resurgent image.
In celebration of World Ocean Day, the Swiss brand recently unveiled the Alpina Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatic in partnership with Gyre Watch. In its bid to go earth-friendly by using recycled materials, the variant features a casing made of 70 percent plastic culled from the ocean and 30 percent fiberglass for reinforcement. Likewise, the two-tone NATO strap is composed of recycled plastic bottles.
With the Alpina Gyre, the brand encourages environmental sustainability and exploration of nature. It released a limited edition of 1,883 units to mark the watchmaker’s founding year, with three styles for men and two for women.
Apart from its environmental advocacy, it announced its partnership with the Geneva-based No Difference Association, which helps people with disabilities achieve their dreams, especially in the field of sports.
Despite changing times and ownerships, Alpina remains anchored on its DNA of providing the best timepieces for extreme outdoor adventures and for people who love excellence, style and precision.
Alpina’s latest watch collections are available at SM City North Edsa North Towers Bridgeway, or visit Tempus stores at The Podium and SM Mall of Asia.
